Student Energy Saving Competition -
Derhill Wins!!

The energy saving competition for student residences has finished and we are happy to announce that Derhill block has been the overall winner.

A ‘Beer & Curry Night' was held for all Derhill residents this Tuesday evening (May 29th), and a tree dedicated to ‘Derhill 2006-7' will be planted close by in the next couple of weeks. This block managed to reduce their consumption against the initial measurement period at the start of the competition in November by over a quarter.

We're also happy to announce that this awareness-raising and switching-off stuff works! Overall, compared with the same period last year, there has been a 10% reduction in electricity usage in the on-site residences overall (down by 142,227 kilowatt hours). This has saved over £13,000 to help keep rents down, and reduced emissions by 60 tonnes of CO2 (enough to fill 12 hot air balloons!).

Students were provided with 20 top tips on the web and on handouts to explain how they could help reduce consumption, all were e-mailed to explain the competition and publicise it, and regular updates were shown on a newly-created website, including graphs showing their weekly consumptions. Accommodation staff, resident tutors and the SU also played their part in promoting this and improving practices. For further details of the competition, click here.

It is planned to run something similar next academic year, and to include the off-site residences also. In other areas of the University the awareness-raising message is being promoted through ‘Our Big Energy Challenge' and a network of 56 staff acting as ‘Energy Champions' across all departments.

Some major investment in monitoring equipment will also be taking place this year, and various improvements to existing buildings and equipment is also ongoing. These include a CHP (Combined Heat & Power) plant for the 50m swimming pool that was recommissioned recently, various lighting and heating modifications, and other improvements as part of the ongoing refurbishment programme across the campus. A major study has also just been completed on potential options for the University to invest in renewable energy, such as solar, CHP, biomass and wind.

For further info on these and other related matters see

http://www.bath.ac.uk/estates/energy/